Mary Ann McSweeney

Mary Ann McSweeney Bassist/Composer/ArrangerMary Ann McSweeney was born and raised in Aptos, California. She began playing the piano at age five, and began studying the violin when she was eight. She performed the Haydn Piano concerto, the Grieg piano concerto and Rhapsody in Blue on piano while playing concert master on violin and taking up jazz bass. She was chosen to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival at age 16 with the All Star Big Band fronted by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. She has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, Joanne Brackeen, Dave Liebman, Howard Alden, Ken Peplowski, Jack Sheldon, Diva and Maiden Voyage. She also has worked with famous conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, John Williams and Lalo Schifrin. She has traveled to Europe performing at many jazz festivals such as the Jazz Kaart in the Baltic States, and the Brau Nau festival in Austria, the Festival Lent in Slovenia and concert halls in France performing with David Krakouer’s “Klezmer Madness.” She also can been seen playing for Lea Delaria throughout the New York club scene and currently can be seen with Lea Delaria on the PBS special Live at the Newport Jazz festival. On Lea Delaria’s Warner Bros. latest C.D.release McSweeney’s arrangement of the Patti Smith song “Dancing Barefoot,” is the first track. She has contributed eight Harold Arlen arrangements for the live recording at Joe’s Pub in New York City for singer/actress Tonya Pinkins. Mary Ann McSweeney Quintet was invited to play for the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The Fahn /McSweeney quintet Performed in Portugal at the Sexial Jazz festival featuring Rick Margitza. Mary Ann McSweeney has two C.D.‘s Thoughts of You and Swept Away featuring her original compositions and arrangements with her jazz quintet that is on the Sparky1 Record Label. For more information go to www.maryannmcsweeney.com.